Italian Garlic Butter Beef and Potatoes

Name: Italian Garlic Butter Beef and Potatoes Slow Cooker
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 6 h
Total time: 6 h 10 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs baby potatoes; 4 tbsp minced garlic, divided; 2 cups beef broth; 1 packet onion soup mix; 2 lbs beef stew meat; 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1 packet zesty Italian salad dressing mix; 1/2 cup unsalted butter; Cheesy garlic bread, for serving

This slow cooker Italian garlic butter beef and potatoes is a hands-off comfort meal that combines tender beef stew meat and baby potatoes in a rich, savory sauce infused with garlic, butter, and Italian seasonings. It's a dump-and-go recipe that requires minimal prep and delivers restaurant-quality results on a weeknight.

⚡Slow Cooker

🌍American 🏷️Slow cooker beef 🏷️Garlic butter beef 🏷️Beef stew Beef and potatoes

🏷️

🏷️Comfort food

🏷️Easy recipe

-0:00

melissajorealrecipesonTikTok

Total

6h 10m

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$20–$33

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by melissajorealrecipes

-0:00

melissajorealrecipesonTikTok

Ingredients

1.5 lbs baby potatoes
4 tbsp minced garlic, divided
2 cups beef broth
1 packet onion soup mix
2 lbs beef stew meat
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 packet zesty Italian salad dressing mix
1/2 cup unsalted butter
Cheesy garlic bread, for servingoptional

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Instructions

1
Place the baby potatoes in the bottom of your slow cooker.
2
Add 2 tablespoons of minced garlic, the beef broth, and the packet of onion soup mix. Stir to combine with the potatoes.
3
In a separate large bowl, combine the beef stew meat, Worcestershire sauce, the remaining 2 tablespoons of minced garlic, tomato paste, and the packet of Italian dressing mix. Mix until the beef is evenly coated.
4
Layer the seasoned beef mixture on top of the potatoes in the slow cooker. Do not stir.
5
Place the pats of butter evenly over the top of the beef.
6
Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the beef is tender.
7
Serve the beef, potatoes, and sauce hot, optionally over a slice of cheesy garlic bread.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Pat beef dry before adding to the slow cooker to minimize excess liquid and help the sauce reduce and concentrate in flavor.
Add potatoes in the last 2–3 hours of cooking on low (or last 1 hour on high) if you prefer them firmer; cook the full time for very tender potatoes.
Stir in an extra 1–2 tbsp butter at the end for richness, or a splash of red wine for depth without altering the dish's Italian profile.
Skim any excess fat from the surface before serving, or use a fat separator if you prefer a lighter sauce.

Substitutions

Beef broth → chicken broth (lighter flavor, reduces richness slightly)
Baby potatoes → diced russet potatoes or pearl onions (cut into similar sizes for even cooking)
Unsalted butter → salted butter (reduce or omit the salt packet slightly to avoid over-salting)
Italian salad dressing mix → Italian herb blend (1.5 tbsp dried oregano, basil, and thyme combined)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through. Freezes well for up to 3 months.

Equipment

slow cooker (6-quart recommended)

Common Questions

Can I make this on the stovetop instead of a slow cooker?

Yes. Brown the beef in a Dutch oven, sauté garlic and tomato paste, then add remaining ingredients and simmer covered for 1.5–2 hours until beef is tender and potatoes are cooked through.

How do I know when the beef and potatoes are done?

The beef should shred easily with a fork and potatoes should be fork-tender. On low, this takes 6–8 hours; on high, 3–4 hours.

Can I prep this the night before?

Yes. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker insert, cover, refrigerate overnight, then cook on low or high the next day.

What can I use instead of onion soup mix?

Substitute 2 tbsp dried minced onion mixed with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp garlic powder, or use a packet of French onion soup mix.

Can I freeze leftovers?

Yes. Cool completely and freeze in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop or microwave until warmed through.